But its not till you´re there that you can really appreciate such things. When you´re assulted by the world you can truly appreciate Gods peace. I had that experience last week.
Getting back to my orphanage was horrible. My balloon of excitement was torn and deflated within minutes of returning. It was fantastic to see my boys from last year. They ran and jumped at me, filled with joy; making me cry. It was a joyful occassion to be reunited. But then I realised quickly how much everything had changed.
20 new boys were added to the program whilst I was away and they had obviously changed the face of the orphanage. Walls torn and drawn on, windows smashed, trash strewn everywhere, children with bruised faces and hardened icy glares. My bedroom door bolted keeping out 9 year old glue addicts and 7 year old theives. "I wouldnt leave it unlocked any more if I were you. You´ll get stabbed during the night if you´re not careful."
Maybe like Eden felt once sin arrived.
Was there ANY chance I could do good in a place like that? I spent most of the following 2 weeks scolding kids. They didnt make their bed; I made them do extra housework. They threw rocks and smashed a kid in the face; extra housework. Stolen bananas from the neighbours farm. Housework, yelling, scolding, time out. Not at all what I came here to do.
So I exhaustedly fell at the feet of Jesus. There was nothing left in me, I was ready to leave for Australia, but I lay in the quiet and put my iPod onto shuffle mode. Every song that played talked about finding strength in Christ and not giving up. The peace of sunset settled on my soul. It all became less about me and more about God, and all worry left me. It didnt matter any more what I achieved; it was more about what God would chose to achieve through me, if he chose to do so at all. I walked out and suddenly the kids had changed too. The following week and a half were close to perfect. No more smashed faces; beds were made and housework completed with no fuss at all. God gave me relief and I thank Him.
Where my time had been tied up with behaviour I was now able to devote time to my new projects. Some good friends in Australia donated 2 cameras to me, and with one of my old cameras I was able to pull 3 different kids aside each afternoon to start my photo project. Filled with joy they photographed friends and flowers and animals. They scaled down the canyon photographing anything mildly interesting.
We were then able to download the photos onto either of 2 laptops that were donated to me last month. We made files to keep their photos, and put aside the very best for printing. So I have started teaching them the basics of a photo program, and we also connected wireless internet to make study time easier for the oldest boys. The library is in disarray, and it is very difficult to find necessarily information; so they have been excited to use the internet for research purposes.
Starting with only a small group of boys we printed off some of the photos and have started scrapbooking. They are so proud to have a collection of their own photos and to have their own book of memories.
The bakery in Mundo Nuevo has been going VERY well. The bread they are producing is delicious, and they are selling enough to now be self sufficient. They are not making a profit yet, but the earnings are paying the necessary costs and the employment of 2 ladies from the community. As their capacity grows we look forward to putting profits into the community.
So thats been my rollercoster month. Each day I am finding it easier, and am regaining the excitement I felt before about being here. A reprieve I continue to enjoy is Mundo Nuevo. I have been able to go to the mountains each weekend to visit with my aunties and spend time with the kids and families I have built relationship with over the past years. It is a complete getaway for me each weekend, and I return refreshed to the orphanage every Sunday evening. I´d love to do more ministry in Mundo Nuevo if one day God would open that door to me.
I´d like to send out some quick thankyou's.
Thanks to Rob Peneder and the Turley family for donating the laptops.
Thanks to Jacqui Huggett for the HUGE donation of clothes we were able to distribute last Christmas. You made Christmas for us!
To Julie Stone, Liz Andjeski, Pulsar Products LLC, Rita, Mark and Bethany Ballenger, and Karen Alcorn for the AMAZING scrapbooking supplies. Also Julie thankyou for the presents you sent. The kids were so happy with their new clothes.
To the Atwater family for their Christmas gifts.
Thanks to Matt Okane and Cam Kissell for the cameras we are now enjoying.
To the many people who have been financially supportive of my mission. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, as without you generosity I would not have been able to acomplish what I have over the past year and a half.
And to those that uphold me and my ministry in prayer. Without your faithfullness I´d probably feel like I did 2 weeks ago much more of the time.
My next big plan is the beach. I am planning it for April during the easter week. We are budgeting $100 per child, and I would love if anyone would be interested in sponsoring a child for a trip of a lifetime. Most Colombians have never seen the ocean as it is too expensive to get there. These kids will have never had that opportunity, but I want to make it happen for them.
It might sound frivilous, but I dont think it is. I look back at all my childhood experiences with such fondness, and I dont see any of those childhood excursions as frivilous. Time away molded me into the person that I am, and I feel these children need time away. They need something special in their lives. They need positive memories.
I talked to one of the social workers the other day about it, and he was most excited. He said the first time he took his own children to the beach they stood there hand in hand awed at that site of the ocean. They were speechless, and their fathers eyes watered up as he told me the story.
Please let me know if you´d be interested in sponsoring a child or a portion of their trip.
Jon Howes.
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